Mycobiology.  2011 Mar;39(1):40-44.

A Protective Mechanism in Lungs of Rats Experimentally Infected with Aspergillus fumigatus

• Mahmoud YA
• Al-Ghamdi
• Abd El-Zaher EHF

Abstract

Aspergillus fumigatus is associated with invasive disease aspergillosis in immunocompromised individuals. The major aim of this study was to investigate the biochemical and immunological responses of male Wistar rats against A. fumigatus experimentally-induced pulmonary fungal infection. Nostril experimental exposure of male Wistar rats to a high dose of A. fumigatus freeze-dried preparation for only 24 hr resulted in a significant increase in levels of catalase, nitric oxide and lipid peroxide in lung homogenates, compared to those of the control animals. However, the oxidative status of the lungs of rats challenged with killed fungus did not change significantly, except for the stimulation in the level of lipid peroxide. IgG level was significantly elevated only in rats that received two low doses of fungus, compared to unexposed animals (p<0.005). Examining the lung of rats exposed to A. fumigatus revealed no abnormal changes, except for pus in bronchial lumen spaces and per bronchial inflammation. Histologically, large numbers of granuloma cells were evident in the lungs of challenged rats, while no granuloma formation was evident in the lungs of rats exposed to killed fungus.

Keyword

Aspergillus fumigatus; Granuloma; Immunoglobulin G

MeSH Terms

Animals
Aspergillosis
Aspergillus
Aspergillus fumigatus
Catalase
Fungi
Granuloma
Humans
Immunoglobulin G
Inflammation
Lung
Lung Diseases, Fungal
Male
Nitric Oxide
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Suppuration
Catalase
Immunoglobulin G
Nitric Oxide